McDonald’s new hope in Pool search for signings

Neil McDonald hopes Blackpool’s upturn in form will persuade potential signings that Bloomfield Road isn’t that bad a place to be.

The Pool boss has struggled in the transfer market in recent months, signing just two players since stating he needed “five or six” ahead of the transfer deadline on September 1.

With off-field issues keeping the club in the news and McDonald’s side sinking to “rock bottom” in League One, the manager admitted it was tough to attract new faces.

But after three wins on the bounce, the boss hopes he will now enjoy more success on the recruitment front.

McDonald said: “I think wins will certainly help to attract players. When people look at the results over the last seven games, they will see they are much better than the first five.”

McDonald has been linked with a move away from Bloomfield Road since his long-term pal Sam Allardyce took the manager’s job at Sunderland.

The Gazette believes that McDonald – Allardyce’s assistant at Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham – has been sounded out about a move to the Stadium of Light, though as yet he looks likely to stay at Blackpool.

With Allardyce expected to name his number two in the next 24 hours, McDonald took training as normal at Blackpool yesterday.

Southend boss Phil Brown and former Black Cats manager Peter Reid have also been mentioned as potential assistants for Allardyce.

If, as expected, McDonald stays at Bloomfield Road, he will be in the market for a central defender, with Liverpool loan man Lloyd Jones sidelined for several months after knee surgery.

As ever, McDonald wasn’t giving much away when asked about the search. He said: “We are looking all the time and if we can get a defender in we’ll try to do that.”

McDonald has a new date to add to his calendar after last weekend’s postponed fixture at Bradford was rearranged for Tuesday, November 3 (7.45pm).

Pool will play at least seven matches next month, including FA Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy ties.